Tournament honors Iowa’s only president

Can you come up with a sport named after a U-S President? Look no fartherthan Iowa, where Hooverball is being played today in West Branch. In fact,it’s the National Hooverball Tournament Championships. The 1929 gamecombines volleyball and tennis using a four- or six-pound medicine ball.Pat Hand is spokeswoman for the Hoover Library Association, which is markingthe 125th anniversary of what would’ve been Herbert Hoover’s birthday.Hand says the events at the Presidential Library begin with a road race thismorning.Other attractions include a kids’ tent full of a quarter-million “Lego”building blocks. There’s also an art show, music, crafts demonstrations, anda band concert and fireworks tonight. Sunday, there are solemn ceremoniesplanned at the Hoover gravesite in West Branch.Mrs. Hoover was also an Iowa native — she was born in Waterloo. All eventsare free & so is the birthday cake to honor the 31st President.